Listen

Read Mark 9:2-13

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there.

Suddenly his face began to shine with glory, and his clothing became dazzling white, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make it! Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus!

"Teacher, this wonderful!" Peter exclaimed. "We will make three shelters here, one for each of you..."

He said this to be talking, for he didn't know what else to say and they were all terribly frightened. But while he was still speaking these words, a cloud covered them, blotting out the sun, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Mark 9:2-7 (TLB)

William G. Heck id from North Carolina. Their flight attendant was getting frustrated. She was explaining the emergency safety procedures, but many of them were either ignoring her or engaged in other conversations. Eventually she raised her voice and authoritatively declared, "Listen up! This could save your life!" Her command surprised and embarrassed William. But it got his attention, and he began listening as though his life depended on it.

Peter, James, and John had surely made assumptions about who Jesus was and what he meant to them - assumptions that limited their ability to listen to him afresh. But Jesus shook them free of these assumptions with the Transfiguration.

William's own assumptions around scripture often keep him from hearing what might be life-changing truth. He assumes he already knows the message when he encounters familiar scriptures, and his mind tends to wander when he hears unfamiliar words. Every Sunday, the minister invites them to "listen for the word of God," but William confesses that he does not always listen afresh. However, he can heed the words of the flight attendant who once exposed his cavalier attitude and learn to listen to God's word as though his life depends on it. Surely it does.

Prayer: Dear Lord, open our ears that we may hear your words of truth for our lives, in Jesus' name. Amen.